Post navigation

RE-CLAIMING THE VISION OF BIRTH

RE-CLAIMING THE VISION OF BIRTH

Giving over to the body’s innate knowledge of itself can seem like an impossible task in a society of reason where the head reigns supreme. Yet, during childbirth, it is the body that ‘knows’ what is needed, how to move, when to breathe, what posture to take, when to push… when we allow our awareness to drop out of the mind’s realm and we deepen our listening to the motion of birth like a great surging river through the landscape of our body.

Before motherhood I spent many years as an artist, developing methods of opening my creative channels in such a way that my mental faculties did not interfere too much with the inspiration coming into art-form through me. Meditative dancing through body-awareness was my primary tool in clearing the pathways to creativity.

My discoveries with movement led me to the realisation that when my body was ‘flowing’, my mind quietened down and my voice naturally opened up, spontaneously expressing songs that came through being in complete harmony with myself. Mind and body became a single instrument of sound, motion and creative energy. When sitting down to paint from this place, one meets with an arena of clarity and freedom, of intuition and depth where images await, calling out to be embodied and created in physical space.

Based on these explorations, in 2002 I designed and began facilitating ‘Dynamic Arts’ workshops incorporating dance, voice work, relaxation and painting as tools for self-development. The power of this work is to help one focus and attune more consciously with one’s creativity. When we tap into it, it is a veritable wellspring of creative energy – a source bubbling up from within us – all of us – not just trained artists.

During my pregnancy I worked intensively with ‘journeying’ and visualisation techniques, to focus on my inner world and its many shifting and varied emotions and expectations. In a deeply relaxed state I made expressive paintings about my past, my body, the child within me, my relationships, my future… and was able to see my unconscious influences at work. I could then create healing in myself for any fear or pain and could embrace the hope and the heightened joy of having a child.

By the time my labour finally approached, I felt more than ready to ‘dance’ my child out into the world. Strong and confident in my ability to ride the waves of childbirth itself and to welcome the extreme tides of being a new mother. Throughout my pregnancy I prepared the first Birth Vision course, knowing that my heart was calling me to bring this work to other birthing women.

Here and now in the Western World, where women’s ‘goddess power’ (our knowledge and confidence around pregnancy, birth, motherhood and womanhood) can be completely ignored and suppressed by both medical and societal structures, there is such a far-reaching need for women and mothers to become empowered. By connecting with what we already know but which is hidden deep within us, we can re-claim our visions for birth. We can rediscover and use this key to experience the beauty and magic of a living miracle – the creation of life.

This work provides a sacred and supported space in which pregnant women can join together to participate in a heart-warming, relaxing, expressive, nurturing and profound journey together. Where we can experience ourselves as miracle workers and goddesses and be held in a safe space with the absolute permission just to ‘Be’. Pregnancy is a time to celebrate woman as an abundant Being of fertility and to honour the special life-giving journey of strength and surrender that every mother makes.